LADY OF THE NIGHT
starring Norma Shearer, George K. Arthur and Malcolm MacGregor
PICTURE PLAY MAGAZINE
June 1925
Evidently Monta Bell has seen "The Salvation Hunters" too often. Mr. Bell jumped into sudden prominence by making several good pictures, so he may be forgiven a thing like "Lady of the Night." But, if he wanted to take (sic) a flop, I wish he hadn't dragged Norma Shearer down with him.
I blame "Lady of the Night" on Von Sternberg's influence because Mr. Bell has taken a plain melodrama and attempted to touch it up with subtle touches, most of which are rather obvious and miss fire. The acting is filled with exaggerations, and the whole picture has a phoney and unconvincing atmosphere. Having been highly praised, Mr. Bell has now become self-consious; he wanted desperately to give the movies something subtle, sophisticated and highbrow, which were the terms applied to "A Woman of Paris." But in this picture, he doesn't make the grade.
Norma Shearer plays a dual role and is, alas, guilty of bad acting, which is too bad because there isn't a more promising young actress on the screen.
LADY OF THE NIGHT
starring Norma Shearer, George K. Arthur and Malcolm MacGregor
PHOTOPLAY
May 1925
This story, by Adela Rogers St. Johns, provides Norma Shearer
with a dual role that reveals to the public her ability as an
actress. We first see Norma as the daughter of the underworld,
graduating from a reformatory school, dressed in extreme underworld
fashion. In our opinion, this was exaggerated. A little later,
she makes a graceful entrance as the beautiful daughter of a judge.
Monta Bell, the director, has made an extremely interesting picture
out of this story of the loves of two girls who lose their hearts
to a young inventor. Eventually, the girls meet, and the underworld
girl sacrifices her love for the judge's daughter and marries
Chuck, an old standby, whose one aim in life is to out-dress the
Prince of Wales. Chuck was splendidly enacted by George K. Arthur.
You'll enjoy it, so don't miss it!